Chapter 17
SILENCE THAT CLINGS
RUNE
I don’t know what possessed me to reach out—to wipe away the grime sticking to her face.
Perhaps it was admiration for the way she’d wielded my blade as if it was sculpted from her very own hand, like it was a part of her.
Slicing through creatures, fighting alongside my crew as if she was one of us.
She might be a good head shorter than me, and a pain in my ass, but she certainly knows how to fight.
I grip her chin, tilting her head back ever so slightly.
My gaze flicks to her mouth, which is slightly parted as I run a thumb over her bottom lip.
She’s covered in the green, mucus-like blood from the creatures that’d attacked us earlier, but even under a blanket of muck she still manages to steal the air right from my lungs.
One flick of my tail would have us chest to chest. Our breaths mingling, her tongue on mine.
She doesn’t try to pull away, only looks at me like she wants it too.
That’s all it takes for my pulse to quicken and other body parts to respond.
A tremble slithers across my skin, prickling the scales on my forearms as I inch closer.
The sound of my crew cresting the hill shatters the spell around us into a million tiny pieces that wink out like forbidden stars.
I pull back, sinking further into the water, and Odi does the same but in the opposite direction.
We’re well and truly apart when Tavi’s bright white hair catches the afternoon sun as she assists Elio down the embankment.
With a flick of her braid, she glances my way but quickly returns her attention to her patient, who, even though he insists he’s alright, is clearly in pain.
Guilt—maybe shame—clamps tight around my chest. My crew are dying, bleeding, breaking because of choices I’ve made.
Every path I take sends another soul back into the sea.
And for what? A sliver of hope that I’ll uncover something about my mother?
A piece of her left behind? What her kind might find worth hiding behind lock and key?
And maybe, a desperate part of me whispers, the truth of what happened.
The symbol on the map—the one that glittered on her skin—hovers on the edge of my thoughts.
Mother had it marked on her chest, just below her throat.
It shimmered under the light the same way my siren markings do.
I shake my head, pushing the too-desperate thought away.
The map is ancient. It may have nothing to do with her, but it’s the first time I’ve seen that marking since leaving Nareth.
For this to work, I need to get wiser. As soon as we have this next key, I won’t risk my crew again. It will just be me who does the retrieving. If Tavi will let me.
With the crew making their way into the stream further up, I shift back into my human form with practised ease.
In the rush of chasing Odi—scooping her into my arms and diving into the blue—I’d let my true self rise, and I’ll never forget the way her eyes roamed over me, tracing the lines of my siren form.
Over the webbed ears. Down the scales that banded my arms. Lingering at the claws curled sharp at my fingertips like something dangerous she didn’t quite fear.
She didn’t flinch.
And that might be the part I remember most.
Deep, cooling waters swirl around me, lapping at my skin.
Odi has moved closer to the edge of the pool where it’s shallow, and even though I shouldn’t, I can’t help but glance back.
She slips her blouse up and over her head.
Beads of water roll down her honey skin, kissing her in places I wish I could.
A slender foot breaks the surface as she scrubs at her skin. The moment I catch on, I turn away to grant her privacy. Then I strip off my own clothes—they could use a wash as well. No sense smelling like the armpit of some bulbous amphibian.
Time slips by as I wash, grateful for a moment's peace. Water splashes behind me, and I know Odi is still there. A sigh slips from me at the thought of her so near. The feeling in my chest only swells when she’s close—unwelcome, unstoppable.
It frightens me for two reasons. First, because it feels like a betrayal of everything I’ve stood for.
Second, because I’ve started searching for her in every room.
After wringing out my clothing and throwing it into a heap on the bank, I drop my head back and let the water seep through my hair, discarding any lingering blood that might be trying to cling to the strands.
I duck under the surface one more time, spinning to face Odelia as I rise. She too has thrown her outer garments onto a low hanging branch, which can only mean one thing.
Fuck . . . vicious seas take me now.
Every second near her is torture of the cruellest kind. I remember every curve of her arm and hip as I lay next to her inside the tent. It’d taken all my willpower not to reach for her and bury my face into the crook of her neck. Now, she’s almost naked mere inches away.
The clamorous chatter from the crew falls away as Odi flicks her gaze up to meet me. Warmth races up my neck and into my cheeks. I’ve been caught. Her brow raises, as does the corner of her mouth. Silently, her eyes challenge me to come closer, but I can’t. I’m too afraid of what I might do.
Water droplets hold fast to her dark lashes. “You had some impressive moves back there.”
I reach up, dragging my hands through my wet hair, flexing my arm muscles. “Whatever do you mean? Aren’t I impressive all the time?”
“Humble too.” Odi grins. “I meant the way you ducked under that creature, and tossed your sword arm back. Seems sneaky for an upstanding man such as yourself.”
I can’t stop the corner of my mouth turning up. “You think I’m upstanding?”
Odi’s head angles to the side, a playful grin forming on her lips. “You don’t know half the things I think.”
What I’d give to slip inside her mind, to trace every dark and shining path that makes her Odelia—vicious pirate of the Viper crew. A woman I have no business imagining beneath my hands, her hair wound between my claws, tugged just enough to hear her breath catch.
I need to think about something else fast.
“Learned the move from my little brother. He’s always been a head shorter than me. But he’s quick.” I blurt out, knowing the talk of family would damper the flame sparking in my chest.
Odi stretches her arms up, fixing her hair. “You have siblings?”
I almost pass out at the sight of the supple mounds of her breast bobbing just above the surface. I’m certain she hears me swallow as I try not to gawk at her.
“Yes, two. My sister—Selene—who is the oldest. Next in line for the throne and then there is the babe of the family, Dash. He’s training in my father’s army. The favoured son.” The words tumble out in a heap.
“No doubt he’s more handsome than you too.”
I sink further down into the water, so only my head is visible, and drift towards her. “You find me handsome?”
Odi huffs, rolling her eyes, but I catch the smile playing on her lips as she turns to look away.
“How about you? Got any brothers I should know about?”
She softly shakes her head, but it’s her eyes that betray her. “Just me.”
Silence hangs between us. Apparently, family is a sensitive topic, so I drop it. “Trust me, you’re better off. Brothers can be more trouble than they’re worth.”
Odi smiles, but I can see the sadness that dances in her eyes.
My chest constricts. We don’t have time for sadness, not yet at least. Both of us have treasure to find, and then . . . well there will be plenty of time for sadness after. “Come on, we’d best join the others.”
She lingers a heartbeat longer before dipping her head. Her gaze flicks to my mouth briefly and then she turns, cutting through the water towards the shore. I swallow hard, the burn in my chest fierce enough to keep me rooted, stalling as I watch her glide away.
When she surfaces I can’t tear my gaze away. First, because she’s fucking perfect to look at, and then because I see a faint trail of red snaking down the side of her leg and realise that she’s bleeding. How did I miss that?
Without a second thought I dart towards her, but by the time I’m there she’s almost out, ankle deep in the water—thankfully she still has underwear on, because if she didn’t there’s a definite chance I would have lost all the feeling in my legs. “Odi, stop.”
I rise and wade towards her, not caring that my naked body is on full display. She freezes, but doesn’t turn. Her dark tresses send droplets back to their watery home and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop the flow of blood rushing to my cock.
“Turn around.” My voice is a gentle command.
She turns slowly on her heel, one arm crossing her chest to shield herself, and I’m glad, because I wouldn’t be able to breathe if I took in the entirety of her beautiful naked figure.
I point to her thigh which has three angry, shallow gashes running across it and a crimson trail twisting its way down her leg. “You’re bleeding.”
She shrugs, her lips sealed tight.
Insects hum thick in the canopy above us, wings buzzing like a chorus.
The sound mingling with the voices of the crew as they washed upstream.
I run my gaze over the wound again, and then my feet have a mind of their own as I take a small step towards her.
“Why do you keep doing this?” My jaw locks tight, the words sounding rougher than I meant them to.
I try to soften the edges by reaching out to tip her chin up to face me.
She pulls out of my grasp, taking a step back. “Doing what?”
“Hiding your wounds?”
She’s already squared her shoulders, defensive. “Because packs of predators turn on the weak, since feeding them will take from the strong."
Something twangs in my chest, and my brow pinches at her words. “You think I’ll turn on you if I find you injured?”
She doesn’t hesitate to answer. “I think your crew would.”